I happened to watch a snippet from Namak Halal, an old Bollyood film, on TV a few days ago. In this clip, Amitabh Bachchan utters those famous lines about a conversation taking place between Vijay Merchant and Vijay Hazare as they batted together during an imaginary match between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground many years ago. This made me think of the present day scenario and with all the cricket satire on the internet, it automatically gave me a new idea to do a humour post about it. So, here it is:
India vs Australia. Melbourne City. Present day scenario.A very prestigious match.
The second over of the second day of the Test is about to be bowled. It is about 5:15 in the morning in India and Indian fans are just about waking up.
Steve Smith and Joe Burns are at the crease at the moment and Ishant Sharma is due to bowl the second over. Smith is on strike,with two slips and a gully in position. There are no fielders behind square on the on - side. The umpire signals that it is time for the bowler to start his run-up and Ishant charges in from round the wicket. He ends up bowling a short ball on the leg stump. Indian fans who have just woken up immediately cover their bleary eyes as this is the first sight that they see when they switch on the TV. The next second, Steve Smith maneuvers the ball for a four through fine leg. The commentators go gaga in the commentary box, "That's a terrible delivery from Ishant Sharma!". Ian Chappell automatically gives his view of the situation on air, "Kohli should have probably asked Sharma to go over the wicket". What does the captain himself think? He looks indignant. He chirps to the bowler from mid - on, "Bhai, mein slip fielders ko taali bajane ke liye nahi raka hoon". (He told Sharma that he hasn't positioned those fielders at slip to simply clap their hands every time the bowlers bowl, indirectly hinting that the bowler must bowl on
the off-stump)
